KR20130032900A - Methods and apparatus to access network connectivity information using predicted locations - Google Patents

Abstract

Example methods and apparatus for accessing network connectivity information based on predicted future location of a wireless terminal are disclosed. The disclosed exemplary method includes predicting at least one future location of the wireless terminal. An example method includes requesting at least a first and a second set of network connectivity information to connect to at least one access network providing wireless communication coverage at at least one future location. The first network connectivity information is related to the first geographic location and the second network connectivity information is related to the second geographic location.

Description

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO ACCESS NETWORK CONNECTIVITY INFORMATION USING PREDICTED LOCATIONS}

Related application

This patent application claims priority to US patent application Ser. No. 12 / 820,883, filed June 22, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention generally relates to network communications, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for accessing network connectivity information using predicted location.

Wireless network deployments, such as wireless local area networks (WLANs), allow wireless terminals to access network and Internet services when within the accessibility of wireless communication signals of the wireless network. Some wireless networks use portions of radio frequency (RF) spectrum shared between other types of devices (eg, primary and secondary devices). These other types of devices must share or use the shared RF spectrum in such a way that they do not interfere with each other when in close proximity to each other or when operating in the same geographical area.

Occasionally, a wireless terminal user travels between different locations where other devices are located where the wireless terminal shares the same frequency spectrum portion. To avoid interference with other devices, wireless terminals can change their wireless connection settings.

Example methods and apparatus for accessing network connectivity information based on predicted future location of a wireless terminal are disclosed. The disclosed exemplary method includes predicting at least one future location of the wireless terminal. An example method includes requesting at least a first and a second set of network connectivity information to connect to at least one access network providing wireless communication coverage at at least one future location. The first network connectivity information is related to the first geographic location and the second network connectivity information is related to the second geographic location.

1 illustrates an example communications network in which an exemplary wireless terminal retrieves access network (AN) connectivity information from an exemplary television idle band (TVWS) database to access a wireless access network.
2 is a diagram of the wireless terminal of FIG. 1 for predicting a future location to use when retrieving AN connectivity information to access the access network of FIG.
3 illustrates an example message exchange between a wireless terminal, an access point, and the TVWS database of FIG. 1 to request AN connectivity information from the TVWS database.
4 illustrates an example implementation of the wireless terminal of FIG. 1 that may be used to change connectivity between a wireless terminal and an access network based on timing information indicating the start of new AN connectivity information enforcement.
5 illustrates an example communication technique for pushing AN connectivity information to the wireless terminal of FIG. 1.
6 illustrates an AN connection configuration selection technique to establish an AN connection configuration that requires relatively fewer, less or minimal AN connection configuration changes while traveling between different geographical locations associated with different AN connectivity requirements. Fig. 1 shows the wireless terminal of Fig. 1 used.
7 illustrates an exemplary travel path selection technique that may be used for connection with a geographic navigation program in accordance with an AN connection plan selected by the wireless terminal of FIG. 1 along a predicted path.
8 illustrates in detail the example wireless terminal of FIGS. 1-7 that may be used to implement the example methods and apparatus described herein.
9 illustrates an example processor system that may be used in a network and that may be used to implement the example methods and apparatus described herein.
10 is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating a process implemented using computer readable instructions that may be used to predict a near future location to use when selecting an AN connection configuration to connect to an access network.
11 is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating a process implemented using computer readable instructions that may be used to implement AN connectivity change between a wireless terminal and an access network based on timing information corresponding to the start of AN connectivity information enforcement. .
12 may be used to select an AN connection configuration to establish an AN connection that requires relatively fewer, fewer, or minimal amounts of configuration change while traveling along different geographical locations associated with different AN connectivity requirements. An example flow diagram illustrating a process implemented using computer readable instructions.
13 is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating a process implemented using computer readable instructions that may be used to select a travel route in connection with a geographical navigation program based on an AN connection location selected by the wireless terminal of FIGS. 1-7. to be.
14 illustrates another example communication network in connection with a mobile AN.

Although the following describes exemplary methods and apparatus including software running on hardware, among other components, it should be understood that such methods and apparatus are merely illustrative and should not be considered as limiting. For example, it is anticipated that some or all of these hardware and software components may be realized in hardware only, software only, firmware only, or any combination of hardware, software and / or firmware. Thus, while exemplary methods and apparatus are described below, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the embodiments provided herein are not the only way to implement such methods and apparatus.

Example methods and apparatus described herein predict a future location (eg, a near future location) of a wireless terminal, and connect (and / or are in motion) to an access network at another location (eg, a predicted future location). Obtain network connectivity information from a network connectivity database that indicates the capabilities and requirements for maintaining connectivity, select a network connectivity configuration, and establish a connection with an access network based on that configuration. Can be used to establish (or maintain). The example methods and apparatus described herein may be used in connection with a mobile communication device, mobile computing device, or any other device (including a fixed communication device) capable of wirelessly communicating with a wireless network. Such devices are also referred to as terminals, wireless terminals, television white space (TVWS) devices, TV band devices (TVBD), or user equipment (UE), and may be referred to as mobile smartphones (eg, BlackBerrys). Smart phone), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop / laptop / netbook computer with a wireless adapter, and the like. The example methods and apparatus described herein may be implemented in connection with a TVWS network and related standards and communication protocols. In addition, the example methods and apparatus described herein are, among other things, implemented in connection with a wireless local area network (WLAN) communications standard known as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 that defines interworking with external networks. Can be. However, exemplary methods and apparatus may additionally or alternatively include other WLAN standards, other standards operating in spectral idle bands, personal area network (PAN) standards, wide area network (WAN) standards, and wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN) standards. (Eg, IEEE? 802.16 or WiMAX networks), wireless regional area network (WRAN) standards (eg, IEEE? 802.22), cellular communications standards, or mobile satellite communications standards (but It may be implemented in connection with other wireless communication standards.

As described herein, some wireless networks utilize portions of the radio frequency (RF) spectrum shared by other types of devices, including TVWS devices, TVBDs, and / or other registered licensed devices. In order to avoid interference between devices (e.g., registered authorized devices operating as primary devices with priority over secondary devices) in this shared RF spectrum portion, wireless communication devices (e.g., 2 A device acting as a primary device may access the network database to obtain an access network (AN) connectivity requirement to share a portion of the RF spectrum without interference with other devices (eg, primary device). Can be. This AN connectivity requirement may specify the use of a channel (or frequency segment) based on the geographic location of the other authorized device so that the wireless terminal can use the channel (or frequency segment) without interfering with another authorized device. have.

In the embodiments described herein, the wireless terminal can operate as a secondary device in the TVWS band without interfering with primary devices such as TV broadcast equipment and applied wireless microphones. For example, the TVWS database may be used to provide AN connectivity information to a wireless terminal based on the location at which the wireless terminal operates (eg, a location defined by global positioning system (GPS) coordinates). The AN connectivity information specifies the unused (and thus available) channel and other data needed for the wireless terminal to operate without interference with the primary authorized user. In this way, the primary authorized user may be provided protection from radio interference at a certain radius or area (eg, a protective contour) around their authorized device.

The example methods and apparatus described herein can be advantageously used to inform the wireless terminal of the type of network connectivity available at the other location before the wireless terminal attempts to connect at the other location. For example, an individual traveling between different locations may first query the network database for access network availability and connectivity capabilities / requirements at the predicted future location, and when the individual's wireless device arrives at the predicted future destination, Access to available access networks is based on the retrieved access network connectivity capability / requirement information. Such predictive future location may be a relatively small geographic area, such as within two or more neighboring towns, within another location of the city (eg, a near future location within each other's block), or by an individual walking or for example on the ground. It may be a near future location within any other relatively small geographic area that travels using ground-based transportation. In some example implementations, the predicted future location may be a further future location associated with a relatively large geographic area, such as another state or country.

This predictive retrieval of access network connectivity information is required to ensure that wireless terminals use the appropriate frequency spectrum at their predicted future location, as required by regulatory rules for authorized users of the frequency band. It can be used advantageously. This is the case in the TVWS frequency spectrum shared by TVBD with other licensed idle band devices such as television broadcast equipment or wireless microphones. A network using the TVWS frequency spectrum may be a separate licensed device (e.g., a TV station or an authorized wireless microphone) that shares the TVWS frequency spectrum with a mobile communication terminal (e.g., a TVBD implemented as a mobile phone or other communication device). It may be associated with one or more TVWS databases that store geographic protection contours for. In addition, licensed wireless microphones using the TVWS frequency spectrum may be mobile (eg, for field news gathering) and may frequently change to their protective boundaries when the wireless microphone is used at other remote locations. Thus, the operating class information of such a moving target device may change frequently over time. The example methods and apparatus described herein may be used to continuously update a mobile communication device with access network connectivity capabilities available to prevent interference with an authorized device operating in the same frequency spectrum.

In order to protect individual authorized devices registered to use a special TVWS channel (e.g., TVWS frequency spectrum channel), the example methods and devices described herein provide their current location and predictions of where a mobile communication device can travel. It may be used to allow the mobile communication device to determine the future location. Such a location may be in the vicinity of an individual authorized device that must be protected from interference caused by mobile communication device communications that may use the same frequency channel as the individual authorized device. Exemplary methods and apparatus described herein provide for making changes to the operating channel, operating bandwidth, transmit power of the mobile device to avoid interference with the authorized device, and / or other parameters associated with access network connectivity information. It can also be used to change the access network connection configuration involved. The access network connectivity information described herein may be implemented as an intermittent class or class of operation that defines other operational and location parameters to use when selecting an access network connection configuration.

The predictive retrieval of access network connectivity information described herein requires channel usage (or other) to require fewer AN connection configuration changes, optimize network connectivity, and / or minimize power consumption during actual connection time. May be advantageously used by the wireless terminal to make a first decision regarding the use of a connection parameter. In some example implementations, the techniques described herein can also be used to select a travel route based on a desired network connection quality.

Although the example methods and apparatus are described herein as retrieving and selecting access network information obtained from a TVWS database, the example methods and apparatus may be of other types, including networks using idle bands in bands other than the TV band. It may similarly be used for access to a network (eg, an information server) that stores information about access to and access to a network (eg, WLAN access networks, cellular networks, etc.). Because intermittent domains make them available. In addition, the information message exchange described herein between the TVBD and the TVWS database may be any suitable technique, including, for example, network query protocols using wired and wireless communication media, network message exchange, email, short messaging service (SMS), and instant messaging. It can be implemented using.

In the example embodiment described herein, an exemplary wireless terminal used to connect with a TVWS access network includes a connection to a TVWS access network (using the TVWS protocol and TVWS channel) and IEEE? It may be implemented using a dual mode or other multi-mode wireless terminal with wireless capability for connection to an 802.11 WLAN access network. In another example implementation, the example methods and apparatus described herein are IEEE? It may be used by wireless terminals having TVWS connectivity capabilities other than the capability for access to other access network technologies other than 802.11 WLAN access networks. The other access network technologies may include both wireless and wired technologies such as, for example, cellular, Ethernet LANs and universal serial buses (USB).

Dual-mode wireless terminals access the TVWS database through a non-TVWS access network (e.g., WLAN access network or cellular network) before attempting to connect to the TVWS access network, thereby providing TVWS access network connectivity capabilities / requirements / availability. It can be advantageously used to retrieve information about. In this way, if TVWS connectivity is not available or unavailable, the wireless terminal needs to consume battery power to attempt to connect to the TVWS access network when such access network is not available or unavailable. none.

Turning now to FIG. 1, an example communications network 100 is shown in which the example methods and apparatus described herein may be implemented. As shown in FIG. 1, the exemplary communication network 100 includes an access network (AN) 102a-b with respective access points (APs) 104a-b. In the example shown, AN 102a-b is a TVWS AN. As shown, AN 102a provides wireless coverage for geographic location (GEO-LOC) A 106a and AN 102b provides wireless coverage for GEO-LOC B 106b. When the wireless terminal 108 is located in the GEO-LOC A 106a, the wireless terminal 108 may establish a connection with the AN 102a. When the wireless terminal 108 moves to the GEO-LOC B 106b, the wireless terminal 108 may establish a connection with the AN 102b.

In order to provide the AN terminal connectivity information to the wireless terminal 108 for establishing a connection with the access network 102a-b, the communication network 100 is configured by the network database 110, which is the TVWS database 110 in the illustrated example. Is provided. The TVWS database 110 is located in an external network 112 that is logically external, that is, separated from the AN 102a-b and logically separated from any other access network that connects the wireless terminal to the TVWS database 110. It is shown as being. Although not shown, the ANs 102a-b may connect with the external network 112 through other intermediate networks (eg, the Internet, private networks, etc.). In some example implementations, the TVWS database 110 may be distributed among other areas with the rank of the database being managed and synchronized. In some example implementations, the ANs 102a-b or any other ANs (eg, WLAN 116) are related portions of the TVWS database 110 (eg, based on a limited geographic area). Alternatively, all local copies can be cached.

As shown, TVWS database 110 stores AN connectivity information 114, including AN connectivity information for establishing a connection with AN 102a and AN 102b. Access network connectivity information may include, for example, access frequency (e.g., frequency channel), available bandwidth, allowed transmit power, downlink transmit power availability, policy, location, timing information, usage from the current location. Channels allocated for the temporal and / or geographic range of (e.g., according to the protection contours stored in the TVWS database 110), and / or access network connectivity (e.g., connection with the TVWS access network). May include access rights to This information may be provided for other locations where the access network (eg, access network 102a-b) provides wireless coverage.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the wireless terminal 108 is from or from any of the ANs 102a-b to retrieve access network connectivity information for any of the ANs 102a-b or any other AN. The TVWS database 110 can be accessed from any other AN. That is, wireless terminal 108 may be located at any location (or any location) where wireless terminal 108 may be moved in the future, even if wireless terminal 108 is not currently in communication with an access network at that location. May request AN connectivity information. To retrieve the relevant information, the wireless terminal 108 may determine its future location by any number of predictive factors (e.g. travel speed, travel direction, geographic map data, conventional history, user input, web browser survey (e.g., For example, a map query, a travel direction survey query, etc.), and the like, and to retrieve any AN connectivity information regarding connection with any other AN or maintaining connection to the same AN at the predicted future location. The TVWS database 110 can be accessed from. In some example implementations, manual user input may also be used to provide predictive future location for the wireless terminal 108. Such manual user input may be for example where the predicted future location is relatively far from the current location, such as in another state or other province, or until the wireless terminal 108 is in the distant future (eg, within the next few days, Weekly, etc.) and may be advantageously used when it is not expected to be located at such a predictive future location.

In addition, the wireless terminal 108 is a TVWS database from any other type of AN other than the TVWS AN type used to implement the AN 102a-b to request AN connectivity information for the AN 102a-b. 110 can be accessed. For example, communication network 100 includes a WLAN access network 116 having a WLAN access point (AP) 118 that also provides access to TVWS database 110 of external network 112. In some example implementations, the wireless terminal 108 (eg, implemented as a multi-mode wireless terminal) is located at the GEO-LOC A 106a and the GEO-LOC B 106b in the future. It is possible to access the TVWS database 110 via the WLAN AN 116 to anticipate, and to request AN connectivity information for connection with the AN 102a and the AN 102b.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the AN connectivity information for AN 102a may be different from the AN connectivity information for AN 102b. In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, GEO-LOC B 106b uses the same radio spectrum (eg, same frequency channel) as also used by wireless terminal 108 to connect with AN 102b. Device (LD) 120 (eg, an approved wireless microphone, TV station, etc.). The LD 120 allows the TVWS database 110 to notify other devices which frequency channel the LD 120 will occupy for their operation at a particular day / time in the GEO-LOC B 106b. It can be registered at 110. In this way, the TVWS database 110 may notify the mobile communication device, such as the wireless terminal 108, that such frequency channel is not available in the GEO-LOC B 106b during the registered day / hour. Thus, if wireless terminal 108 is using a limited or unavailable frequency channel in GEO-LOC A 106a (since one or more LDs 120 are operating) in GEO-LOC B 106b, Wireless terminal 108 must change its AN connection configuration as it moves to GEO-LOC B 106b, and the wireless connection is handed off from AN 102a to AN 102b.

In some example implementations, the AN connectivity information retrieved from the TVWS database 110 may include a duration (eg, temporal range) or region (eg, geographic range) that is valid for use by the AN connectivity information. It may also include a temporal range and / or a geographic range of usage to indicate. In some cases, the temporal range and / or geographic range may indicate that the AN connectivity information is valid for use in one AN or across several ANs. The temporal range of usage for AN connectivity information may be more relevant to fixed wireless terminals or to wireless terminals that do not move very frequently, and the geographical range of usage may be relative to mobile wireless terminals that move relatively more frequently between different locations. It may be more relevant. This temporal and / or geographic range of usage may be advantageously used by the wireless terminal 108 to prioritize the selected AN connectivity information configuration or to identify a good AN connectivity configuration. For example, if wireless terminal 108 travels a significant amount (eg, traveling by car on a motorway), wireless terminal 108 is a frequent channel when traveling between different ANs based on geographic range. Preference with uniform or identical channel selection may be prioritized to prohibit the need to perform a switchover or handover. If the wireless terminal 108 is very stationary (e.g., when the wireless terminal 108 is held by a walking pedestrian) or if the wireless terminal 108 is changed very little or does not change in position ), Or short-range mobility (eg, indoor use of the wireless terminal 108), the wireless terminal 108 is frequent during the duration of a connection session with the current AN or group of ANs based on a temporal range. Preference may be prioritized with the longest duration channel selection (eg, a channel selection that can remain selected for the longest duration) to prohibit the need to perform channel switching or handover.

Although not shown, the ANs 102a-b and 116 may also have a network access server (NAS) in communication with each of the APs 104a-b and 118. In such exemplary implementation, the NAS determines whether the wireless terminal is allowed to gain network access and accordingly communicate with AN 102a-b, 116 and other networks (eg, external network 112). Can be used for In addition, the NAS handles communications sent by the wireless terminal 108 to the APs 104a-b and 118 intended to communicate to the TVWS database 110, and the communications or related portions (e.g., the TVWS protocol ( IEEE 802.11 information element used in conjunction with an access network query protocol to form a TVWSP) frame may be returned to the TVWS database 110. In addition, the NAS may be used to receive a response from the TVWS database 110 and return the response information to the wireless terminal 108 (e.g., via a TVWSP frame) via each AP 104a-b, 118. Can be.

Referring briefly to Fig. 14, the exemplary methods and apparatus described herein may also be implemented in connection with a mobile AN being moved between different geographic locations (e.g., GEO-LOC A-B 106a-b). In the example shown in FIG. 14, the wireless terminal 108 is shown in another example network system 1400 having some elements in common with the network system 100 of FIG. 1, and in some example implementations the network system It may be implemented in connection with 100. Network system 1400 is shown with an AN 152 including an AP 154. AN 152 may communicate with wireless wide area network (WWAN), wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN), WiMAX AN, Long Term Evolution (LTE) AN, or external network 112 and any capable of communicating with mobile devices and mobile APs. It may be another type of AN.

In the example shown, the wireless terminal 108 is shown in communication with a mobile TVWS AP 156 forming a mobile TVWS AN. To access the external network 112 or any other network (eg, the Internet), the mobile TVWS AP 156 communicates with the mobile WWAN AP 158, and the mobile WWAN AP 158 is then AN Communicate with AP 154 of 152. In the example shown, the transport medium of wireless terminal 108, mobile TVWS AP 156 and mobile WWAN AP 158 is bus 160, but the transport medium may be, for example, a car, a human being (eg, an ad hoc). (ad-hoc) individual having a portable device constituting the AP) and the like.

In the illustrated example, the mobile TVWS AP 156 may be equipped with a WLAN radio to communicate with the WLAN AP 118. An enabling AP, such as WLAN AP 118, in operation, enables the TVWS AP 156 to access external network 112 via mobile WWAN AP 158 when detected and decoded by TVWS AP 156. Send an bling beacon 162. The mobile TVWS AP 156 queries the TVWS database 110 via the WWAN AP 158 to determine the current actual location (eg, GEO-LOC A 106a) and / or the bus 160 is located. The TVWS channel availability information may be requested as described herein for any predicted future location (eg, GEO-LOC B 106b) that 160 may be located in the future. The TVWS AP 156 may locally store received TVWS channel availability information, and the wireless terminal 108 may establish TVWS channel availability information from the TVWS AP 156 to establish a non-interfering connection with the TVWS AP 156. You can request

When the wireless terminal 108, the mobile TVWS AP 156 and the mobile WWAN AP 158 move between different locations, they are the primary device (eg, idle) such as the LD 120 located at the other location. The protection contour associated with the operation of the registered registration device of the band channel). During such a move, the mobile TVWS AP 156 queries the TVWS database 110 for updated TVWS channel availability information about the accessing location and protects the primary device (eg, LD 120). Even if the wireless terminal 108 traverses the area in which the wireless terminal 108 is enforced, the wireless terminal 108 can send the TVWS channel availability information to the wireless terminal 108 so that the wireless terminal 108 can maintain a valid AN connection through the mobile TVWS AP 156. have. Thus, as the wireless terminal 108 and the mobile TVWS AP 156 move between different protection contours, they use each other without interfering with nearby primary devices by using TVWS channel availability information received from the TVWS database 110. Can maintain communication

In the example shown, when the mobile TVWS AP 156 is at GEO-LOC A 106a and moves towards GEO-LOC B 106b, the TVWS AP 156 is updated for GEO-LOC B 106b. You can request TVWS channel availability information and determine available channels at that new location. If the channel selected for the current location (eg, GEO-LOC A 106a) is no longer available at the new location (GEO-LOC B 106b) accessible, the TVWS AP 156 is moved to the new location. Instruct all attached wireless terminals (e.g., wireless terminal 108) to select an available channel at and change their AN connection configuration with TVWS AP 156 to use the new channel. In the example shown, the TVWS AP 156 may continue to provide TVWS network coverage to the wireless terminal as long as it receives the enabling beacon 162 from the WLAN AP 118.

Returning now to the example embodiment of FIG. 2, the wireless terminal 108 of FIG. 1 may use a future location (eg, for use in retrieving AN connectivity information for connecting to ANs 102a-b of FIG. 1). For example, a near future location along the current travel route 202). The current travel route 202 includes the old physical location 204 (in GEO-LOC A 106a) and the current physical location 206 (in GEO-LOC B 106b) of the wireless terminal 108. do. In the example shown, the wireless terminal 108 may be a global positioning system (GPS) device or other location aware technology for determining the current travel route 202, the former actual location 204 and the current actual location 206. It may be provided. In some example implementations, the wireless terminal 108 transmits its current actual location 206 to the TVWS database 110 of FIG. 1, and the TVWS database 110 is currently connected to the current location 206 (eg Each frequency currently available to the wireless terminal 108, for example, to connect to the AN 102b (FIG. 1) of the GEO-LOC B 106b). The geo-physical range of the channel can be determined. Thus, the TVWS database 110 may perform the function of geographic prediction based on the information provided by the wireless terminal 108.

The wireless terminal 108 may use the prediction factor to determine the predicted future location 208 that the wireless terminal 108 predicts that the wireless terminal 108 will be located in the future (eg, near future). Prediction factors may be used, for example, to predict old actual location 204 (and / or other old actual location), current real location 206, travel speed, travel direction, and / or future location. It can include any other information that is present. Any known suitable technique for predicting predictive future location 208 may be used, including manual user input for future location. In some example implementations, the accuracy of subsequent predictions can be improved by comparing the prediction results with periodic sample readings of the actual location.

In addition, the wireless terminal 108 can use the travel speed and travel direction information to determine how often the wireless terminal 108 needs to check or request updated AN connectivity information from the TVWS database 110. For example, if the wireless terminal 108 moves relatively slowly or does not move at all, the wireless terminal 108 may move the wireless terminal 108 relatively faster and accordingly another AN (eg, FIG. 1). TVWS database 110 less frequently than traversing another location (eg, GEO-LOC AB 106a-b of FIGS. 1 and 2) served and covered by ANs 102a-b). Can be determined (eg, requesting AN connectivity information). In some example implementations, when the wireless terminal 108 proceeds beyond the temporal or geographic range of usage for a particular channel, the wireless terminal 108 re-requests relevant AN connectivity information from the TVWS database 110. Can be triggered to.

As shown in FIG. 2, the predicted travel path may follow a non-linear path, such as the prediction path 210. Such nonlinear route prediction may be realized using map data indicative of available travel routes that match the current travel route of the mobile device (eg, the current travel route 202 of the wireless terminal 108). For example, if the current travel route 202 is along an interstate highway with one or more bends, such bends in the available travel paths for the wireless terminal 108 may be identified from map data representing the bends. have. Although the prediction path 210 is shown in FIG. 2, the exemplary methods and apparatus shown use fewer granular predictions so that a relatively small number of positions that make up the prediction path 210 are predicted. Can be implemented. In some example implementations, the wireless terminal 108 (or network device) may predict the prediction future location 208 without the prediction path (eg, the prediction path 210) between the prediction future locations 208. Can be.

In the illustrated example described herein, the wireless terminal 108 uses the predicted future location 208 to provide AN connectivity information for the AN providing wireless coverage at the predicted future location 208 by the TVWS database 110. (Figure 1). In this way, the wireless terminal 108 can maintain AN connectivity with the AN when the wireless terminal 108 moves to the predicted location 208.

In the example shown, the wireless terminal 108 also predicts an alternative predictive future location 212. For example, the alternative predicted future location 212 may include two possible routes (eg, GEO-LOC D 106d) to travel if the wireless terminal 108 leaves the GEO-LOC C 106c. May be a viable choice. In that case, the wireless terminal 108 is in addition to the alternative predicted future location (eg, predicted future location 208) where the wireless terminal 108 is more likely to travel (eg, predictive future location 208). For example, it may request AN connectivity information from the TVWS database 110 from the alternative predicted future location 212.

In some example implementations, the TVWS database 110 (or associated server) may be a prediction location (eg, prediction location 208) or other information (eg, sent to the TVWS database 110 by the wireless terminal). For example, a prediction factor may be used to predict future connections with other wireless terminals. The TVWS database 110 may provide a wireless terminal with a query for a forecast regarding a connection load for another AN (e.g., AN 102a-b in FIG. 1), which may be provided by the wireless terminal. The forecast can be used to select a travel route for the user to follow and consequently to access a relatively less crowded AN.

Returning to FIG. 3, wireless terminal 108 may request wireless connectivity 108 (FIGS. 1, 2), AP 104a, and TVWS database (FIG. 1) to request AN connectivity information from TVWS database 110. The prediction location 208 of FIG. 2 may be used in connection with an example message exchange 300 between 110. For example, after predicting a travel route including the predicted location 208, the wireless terminal 108 at the predicted location 208 provides a predicted location (A) for access to an AN that provides wireless communication coverage along the predicted travel path. 208 may request a set of AN connectivity information.

As shown in FIG. 3, the wireless terminal 108 includes a time entry 304, a location entry 306, and an AN connectivity for each predicted location (eg, predicted location 208) of the wireless terminal 108. A predictive connectivity data structure 302 may be stored that is used to store the information set 308. Each time entry 304 indicates the time at which the wireless terminal 108 arrives at the corresponding predicted location (eg, one of the predicted future locations 208 in FIG. 2), and each location entry 306 Denotes an identifier of a corresponding predicted future location (eg, one of the predicted future locations 208), and each AN connectivity information set 308 represents a corresponding future time (eg, a time entry 304). Stores the AN connectivity information for each predicted future location. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, when the wireless terminal 108 detects that the wireless terminal 108 is actually located at the location identified by the predicted future location of the location entry 306, the wireless terminal 108 is If the current AN connection (or AN connection configuration) is no longer available, the current AN connection can be changed based on the corresponding set of AN connection configuration sets 308. For example, if wireless terminal 108 is in a current AN connection using channel 5 and subsequent AN connectivity information for the predicted future location allows the use of channel 5 (in addition to the use of other channels), Terminal 108 does not need to change the configuration of its current AN connection when it arrives at the predicted future location. This is because the AN connectivity information for the predicted future location allows the use of channel 5 that the wireless terminal 108 is already using for the already established AN connection. However, if the AN connectivity information for the predicted future location does not allow the use of channel 5, then the wireless terminal 108 may establish its AN connection to use another channel that is allowed according to the AN connectivity information of the predicted future location. Can be changed or adjusted.

To retrieve AN connectivity information from the TVWS database 110, the wireless terminal 108 sends an access network (AN) request message 310 via the AP 104a to query the TVWS database 110. In the example shown, the AN request message 310 includes a prediction time T ₁ -T ₃ from the predictive connectivity data structure 302 and each predicted future location LOC _1- LOC ₃ . The predicted time (T ₁ -T ₃ ) and each predicted future location (LOC ₁ -LOC ₃ ) of the AN request message (310) is the position (LOC) indicated at the time (T ₁ -T ₃ ) at which the wireless terminal 108 was displayed. ₁ -LOC ₃ ) to request valid AN connectivity information. In the example shown, the indicated location LOC ₁ may indicate GEO-LOC C 106c of FIG. 2, and the marked location LOC ₂ may indicate GEO-LOC D 106d of FIG. 2. Upon receiving the AN request message 310, the AP 104a sends a database request 312 to the TVWS database 110, and the TVWS database 110 receives the time from the AN request message 310 (T ₁ -T). ₃ ) and each predicted future location (LOC _1- LOC ₃ ).

In the example shown, the TVWS database 110 includes a database response message 314 that includes a set of requested AN connectivity information INFO ₁ -INFO ₃ with corresponding prediction times T ₁ -T ₃ . Responds to database request 312. In the example shown, the AN connectivity information set INFO ₁ is the AN of the GEO-LOC C 106c of FIG. 2 (eg, AN 102a-b of FIG. 1) at or near prediction time T ₁ . including connectivity information for the connection to a similar to), and aN connectivity information set (iNFO ₂₎ are connected to the aN of the prediction time of Figure 2 in the T ₂ at or near GEO-LOC D (106d) Contains connectivity information for. After receiving the database response 314, the AP 104a includes the requested AN connectivity information set INFO ₁ -INFO ₃ along with the corresponding time T ₁ -T ₃ from the database response 314. Transmits an AN response message 316 to the wireless terminal 108.

In some example implementations, the prediction times T ₁ -T ₃ may be omitted from the database response 314 and the AN response 316, and the wireless terminal 108 is the requested AN in the AN response 316. connectivity information set (iNFO ₁ -INFO ₃₎ ordering each of the requested aN connectivity information set (iNFO ₁ -INFO ₃₎ each time (T ₁ -T ₃₎ and the respective positions of (LOC ₁ -LOC ₃ ) may be assumed to correspond to the ordering of time T ₁ -T ₃ of AN request 310 to match.

In some example implementations, the TVWS database 110 may compare the predicted time (T ₁ -T ₃ ) and predicted future location (LOC ₁ -LOC ₃ ) with a better time / location at which the requested AN connectivity information set is changed. You can modify the time and location to mark the point. For example, the predicted time T ₁ provided by the wireless terminal 108 is the updated AN connectivity information set INFO after the wireless terminal 108 arrives at the corresponding location LOC ₁ at the predicted time T ₁ . _{1 ′} ) may be temporally close to the time-based change boundary (eg, T _{1 ′} ) for the corresponding AN connectivity information set INFO ₁ so that the AN connection needs to be changed immediately or quickly. Additionally or alternatively, the predicted position is provided by the wireless terminal 108 (LOC ₁₎ is an AN connectivity information set updated after the wireless terminal 108 arrives at the location LOC ₁ in the prediction time T ₁ (INFO _{1 ')} In accordance with this, the AN connection may be geographically close to a location-based change boundary (e.g., LOC _{1 '} ) for the corresponding AN connectivity information set INFO ₁ so that it may need to change immediately or quickly. Thus, to avoid this frequent change of AN connection, the TVWS database 110 may include one or more modified prediction times (T _{1 ′} -T _{3 ′} ) and one or more modified prediction future positions (LOC) in the database response 314. _{1 '-LOC 3')} or the at least one recommendation proposed aN connectivity information set corresponding to the (it is possible to provide the iNFO _{1 '-INFO 3').}

In some example implementations, to provide some tolerance or tolerance at prediction times T ₁ -T ₃ , the TVWS database 110 generates a database response message for each prediction time T ₁ -T ₃ . 314 may respond to the database request 312 by providing two or more sets of AN connectivity information. For example, the predicted time of the AN plurality connectivity information set for the T ₁ (e.g., ₁ INFO _(-1), INFO _{1 (0),} INFO _{1 (1))} is a time which occurs before the predicted time T ₁ boundary _{(T 1 (-1))} effective AN connectivity information _{(iNFO 1 (-1)),} the predicted time effective AN connectivity information _{(iNFO 1 (0))} of (T _1), separated by, and the predicted time may correspond to a valid AN connectivity information _{(iNFO 1 (1)),} separated by a time boundary _{(T 1 (1))} generated after T _1. In this way, if the time trajectory of the wireless terminal 108 along the prediction path is changed, the wireless terminal 108 may adjust the adjusted time (eg, T ₁ when the wireless terminal 108 arrives at its subsequent predicted future location). A plurality of AN connectivity information sets received for each subsequent predicted future location based on _(-1) or T _{1 (1)} ) (eg, INFO _{1 (-1)} , INFO _{1 (0)} , INFO _{1 (1)} ).

Additionally or alternatively, the wireless terminal 108 may re-request AN connectivity information update from the TVWS database 110 using the AN request message 310 each time it updates the prediction times T ₁ -T ₃ . And the predicted time T ₁ -T ₃ may be different from the AN connectivity information (eg, the previously received AN connectivity information set INFO ₁ -INFO ₃ ) that is different from that previously received by the wireless terminal 108. By an amount sufficient to predict that it will arrive at the predicted future location (LOC _1- LOC ₃ ) at different times associated with other AN connectivity information (e.g., due to an increase or decrease in travel speed of wireless terminal 108). Is changed. In order for the wireless terminal 108 to detect when the wireless terminal 108 should retrieve the updated AN connectivity information set INFO _1- INFO ₃ , the TVWS database 110 may be configured with a normalization time or duration limit ( threshold). In this way, when the change in one or more prediction times (T ₁ -T ₃ ) changes beyond the duration limit, the wireless terminal 108 may request one or more corresponding updated AN connectivity information sets. This time or duration limit may be a fixed limit that applies to all prediction times, or the TVWS database 110 may be time or duration specific to each set of AN connectivity information based on the properties of the TVWS database 110. It can generate limits. The TVWS database 110 may communicate this unique time or duration limitation to the wireless terminal 108 in a database response message 314 in connection with each respective set of AN connectivity information (INFO ₁ - INFO ₃ ).

The AN request message 310 and the AN response message 316 may be implemented using a generic advertising service (GAS) query / response formatting frame. IEEE? The GAS protocol defined in 802.11 provides a transport mechanism for advertising services between a wireless AP and a wireless terminal while the wireless terminal is in a state (or related state) that is not associated with the wireless AP.

4 is for changing connectivity between wireless terminal 108 and AN (eg, one of AN 102a-b of FIG. 1) based on timing information indicating the start of enforcement of new AN connectivity information. An example implementation of a wireless terminal 108 (FIGS. 1-3) that may be used is shown. The example implementation of FIG. 4 may be used when the wireless terminal 108 is a mobile and / or when the wireless terminal 108 is implemented as a secondary device in a fixed position. The predicted change in AN connectivity information based on timing information (eg, time of day or countdown time for the change to take effect) may allow the wireless terminal 108 to implement the change without determining or taking a reading of its location. To be. This may be advantageously used to reduce the overall processing operation of the wireless terminal 108 during the moment of approaching a change in AN connectivity information (eg, an intermittent class change). In addition, communicating such prediction changes to other devices (eg, TV transmitters and other TVBDs) may facilitate proper operation of co-located devices operating within the same or neighboring frequency channels. .

In the example shown, the wireless terminal 108 stores a time based connectivity information data structure 400 that stores a time entry 402 and a corresponding AN connectivity information set 406. The time entry 402 indicates the time at which their respective AN connectivity information set 406 begins to be enforced by one or more respective ANs (eg, ANs 102a-b). Alternatively, time entry 402 may include a countdown time or duration remaining before each AN connectivity change becomes valid. In the example shown, time-based connectivity information data structure 400 may include location entry 404 (eg, the location of FIG. 3) corresponding to each time entry 402 and AN connectivity information set 406. Similar to entry 306).

In the example shown, the wireless terminal 108 has a time change register 408 and a real time clock 410. The wireless terminal 108 uses the time change register 408 to correspond with the time entry 402 that is about to be enforced next time or by the corresponding AN (eg, AN 102a-b in FIG. 1). One of the AN connectivity information sets 406 may be loaded. The wireless terminal 108 can use the real time clock 410 to trigger a time event when the time value of the real time clock 410 matches the time value of the time change register 408. In response to the time event, wireless terminal 108 implements the AN connectivity change to perform an AN connection based on the requirements of the AN connectivity information set stored in time change register 408. In an example implementation in which the time entry corresponds to a countdown time (eg, the remaining time before an upcoming AN connectivity information change becomes valid), the wireless terminal 108 is in the AN connectivity information set 406. A counter may be used instead of the real time clock 410 to detect when an AN connection change should be implemented based on the corresponding set.

In some example implementations, the location entry 404 is based on the actual location of the wireless terminal 108 along the travel route (eg, the old physical location 204 and the current physical location 206 of FIG. 2). Can be used to update or recalculate the subsequent prediction time of time entry 402. For example, the subsequent prediction time of the time entry 402 may be offset or inaccurate if the wireless terminal 108 is delayed from arriving at the predicted future location indicated in the location entry 404. In response to such a delay, wireless terminal 108 may update the subsequent prediction time of time entry 402 to obtain valid update AN connectivity information for the updated prediction time at the corresponding location. The wireless terminal 108 is intended to avoid significant communication exchanges between the network and the wireless terminal 108 at a time and location prior to requiring an AN connection change and, for example, in time close to when the AN connection change should be implemented. The valid updated AN connectivity information may be retrieved at a convenient time and location based on some criteria.

In some example implementations, the wireless terminal 108 uses the AN connectivity information in the time-based connectivity information data structure 400 rather than based on the time information of the time entry 402. It is possible to change the AN connection configuration based on the detected current position of. For example, if wireless terminal 108 detects that a predicted future location indicated in location entry 404 has been reached but the current time has not yet reached the predicted time indicated in corresponding time entry 402 (e.g., , Using a GPS device or other location detection technology), the wireless terminal 108 may determine its AN based on reaching the predicted future location, even if the predicted time information of the corresponding time entry 402 does not match the current time. You can change the connection configuration. The wireless terminal 108 may then update the subsequent prediction time in the time entry 402 and the subsequent prediction position in the location entry 404 and from the TVWS database 110 for the updated time and location. The updated valid AN connectivity information can be retrieved.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary communication technique for pushing AN connectivity information to wireless terminal 108 (FIGS. 1-4). The example communication technique of FIG. 5 may be used when the wireless terminal 108 is a mobile and / or when the wireless terminal 108 is implemented as a secondary device in a fixed location. As shown, AN 102a pushes a message 502 addressed or directed to wireless terminal 108 and includes a start time 504, a location 506, and an AN connectivity information set 508. In some demonstrative embodiments, location 506 may correspond if AN set of connectivity information 508 corresponds to the current actual location of wireless terminal 108 (eg, current actual location 206 of FIG. 2). May be omitted. In the example shown, the AN connectivity information set 508 includes information about upcoming AN connectivity information changes and the AN connectivity information 114 in the TVWS database 110 (FIG. 1) (or AN's local proxy database). Based on). For example, a network device (eg, APs 104a-b in FIG. 1, WLAN AP 118, associated NAS, and / or TVWS database 110) may be located in the current physical location of wireless terminal 108. For example, the current actual location 206 may be detected, and / or location prediction parameters may be collected from the wireless terminal 108 and / or other sources, and the future location of the wireless terminal 108 may be For example, the predicted future location 208 of FIG. 2 may be predicted. The network device may then push the AN connectivity information to the wireless terminal 108 by a push message 502 corresponding to the current actual location 206 and / or the predicted future location 208.

In some demonstrative implementations, push message 502 is directed to a location of an individual authorized device (eg, a wireless microphone) registered to use one or more frequency channels that are otherwise available to wireless terminal 108. May contain information. In another example implementation, the push message 502 may indicate a frequency channel that is no longer available by the TVBD, such as the wireless terminal 108, or the frequency channel may be a different registered authorized device (e.g., Will be available once after it has not been made available before. The push message 502 may be triggered for transmission by the TVWS database 110 based on changes in the TVWS database 110 related to radio configuration, device registration, device density, and the like. For example, the information in the TVWS database 110 may be modified in response to a time change (e.g., certain AN connection configurations are allowed or restricted during certain time periods) or one or more devices that operate or stop working at special locations. It may be changed in response to an authorizing device (eg, LD 120 of FIG. 1).

The start time 504 indicates the remaining time before the upcoming AN connectivity information change becomes valid or the time of day that the change becomes valid. The wireless terminal 108 utilizes such time-based information to implement the enforcement / operation class of the AN connectivity information set 508 when necessary, and thus relies on the time-based information to make such a change, thereby requiring At the moment, the overall operation of the wireless terminal 108 (eg, a communication operation, a positioning operation, etc.) can be reduced.

Push message 502 may be generated during or after a connection initialization session (eg, registration, initial query time), at regular intervals (eg, once every hour), or in the TVWS database 110. When occurring, it may be pushed down from the TVWS database 110 to the wireless terminal 108 (eg, the concert venue will require the use of a wireless microphone, otherwise the use of the wireless microphone is terminated). In some example implementations, the AP 104a of the AN 102a may be the actual location of the wireless terminal 108 (eg, the current actual location 206 of FIG. 2) or the predicted future location (eg, Filtering the AN connectivity information change based on the predicted future location 208 of FIG. 2 to ensure that only relevant AN connectivity information is pushed to the wireless terminal 108 for that prediction route, thus transmitting unnecessary data. Can be avoided. Pushing of the relevant AN connectivity information corresponding to the predicted route of the wireless terminal 108 may be performed by a server in the network that has been informed of the predicted route (eg, a local database of the AP 104a or an association of the NAS). As a third party proxy in AN 102a, etc.).

In the illustrated example of FIG. 5, the wireless terminal 108 uses the AN connectivity information received in the push message 502 using the time change register 408 and the real time clock 410 in the manner described above with respect to FIG. 4. The AN connectivity change may be implemented based on 508 and start time 504.

6 illustrates establishing an AN connection configuration that requires relatively fewer, less or minimal AN connection configuration changes while the wireless terminal 108 travels between different geographical locations associated with different AN connectivity requirements. Wireless terminal 108 (FIGS. 1-5) using AN connection configuration selection technique. In the example shown, the AN connection configuration selection selects a channel that requires a relatively small or fewer (eg, minimum) amount of change as the wireless terminal 108 moves between the GEO-LOC ACs 106a-c. It is related to doing.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, the wireless terminal 108 predicts a predicted travel path 602 that traverses the GEO-LOC A-C 106a-c. In another example implementation, the predicted travel path 602 may be a network device (e.g., a NAS of one of the ANs 102a-b of FIG. 1, a third party proxy in the AN, or the TVWS database of FIG. 110)). The wireless terminal 108 stores the AN future connectivity information along the predicted travel path 602 and the AN connectivity information data that stores the corresponding AN connectivity information set 606 received from the TVWS database 110 of FIGS. 1 and 3. Save structure 604. In the example shown, the AN connectivity information set 606 for GEO-LOC AC 106a-c is generated by a wireless terminal, such as wireless terminal 108, sharing the same frequency spectrum with a registered authorized device. Define a device protection contour along prediction path 602 to protect another registered authorized device (eg, LD 120 of FIG. 1) from interference.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, the AN connectivity information set 606 for the GEO-LOC AC 106a-c includes a channel identifier 608, and corresponding geographic range information (GEO_R) for each channel identifier 608. ) 610 and the temporal range information (TMP_R) 612. The geographic range information (GEO_R) 610 may determine the amount of usage based on the corresponding predicted future location for which the corresponding channel is available or valid for use (e.g., based on a protection contour stored in the TVWS database 110). Specify the street or area. The geographical range information (GEO_R) (610) is TVWS database 110 of the AN set of connectivity information (INFO ₁ -INFO ₃₎ with respect to the predicted future location (LOC ₁ -LOC ₃₎ corresponding to described above with respect to Figure 3 Can be provided by Temporal range information (TMP_R) 612 specifies the duration over which the corresponding channel is available or valid for use (eg, based on a protection contour stored in TVWS database 110). The temporal range information (TMP_R) 612 is generated by the TVWS database 110 of the AN connectivity information set INFO ₁ -INFO _{3 for} the corresponding prediction time T ₁ -T ₃ described above with respect to FIG. 3. Can be provided.

As shown in AN connectivity information data structure 604, GEO-LOC A 106a is shown to allow the use of channels 31 and 36, while GEO-LOC B 106b uses the use of channels 28 and 36. GEO-LOC C 106c is shown to allow the use of channels 31 and 36. Using the prediction path 602, the wireless terminal 108 selects one or more channels that require minimal changes during the journey (or for a particular duration) through the prediction path 602, and accordingly AN connection session. It is possible to reduce or minimize the change in the AN connection configuration. The wireless terminal 108 may form an AN connection configuration for each of the GEO-LOC A-Cs 106a-c, and store the AN connection configuration in the travel path connection planning data structure 614. Such channel selection may be determined by the wireless terminal 108 based on, for example, geographic range information (GEO_R) 610 and / or temporal range information (TMP_R) 612 for each channel. Alternatively, wireless terminal 108 may select one of the network entities (eg, one of the ANs 102a-b of FIG. 1, a third party proxy within the AN, or the TVWS database of FIG. 1) to select a particular channel. (110). In some example implementations, the TVWS database 110 sends only the channels with the longest geographic range (GEO_R) and / or the longest temporal range (TMP_R) to the wireless terminal 108 and through the prediction path 602. The wireless terminal 108 may select one or more channels that require minimal changes during the course of travel or for a particular duration.

In the example shown, wireless terminal 108 uses channel 36 to maintain an AN connection on each of GEO-LOC ACs 106a-c because channel 36 is available on each of GEO-LOC ACs 106a-c. You can choose to. In some demonstrative implementations, wireless terminal 108 may select channel 36 even if it is not the channel with the strongest signal available when receiving AN set of connection information 606. For example, channel 31 may have better signal strength than channel 36, but only for a limited duration in which wireless terminal 108 traverses GEO-LOC A 106a and GEO-LOC C 106c. Do.

7 illustrates an example that may be used for connection by a mapping application according to an AN connection plan selected by wireless terminal 108 (FIGS. 1-6) along a prediction path (eg, prediction path 602 of FIG. 6). It demonstrates the technology of selecting a travel route. For example, if the wireless terminal 108 knows a general location to travel to, the wireless terminal 108 uses the AN connectivity information associated with that location and establishes the best AN connection available based on the AN connectivity information. A path can be determined that traverses some of the locations that allow to establish. For example, if two neighboring geographic locations associated with different AN connectivity requirements are available to the wireless terminal 108, the wireless terminal 108 may indicate that one of those locations is preferred over the other. have. This is because the associated AN connectivity information indicates better connectivity with an AN (eg, one of the ANs 102a-b of FIG. 1). This better connection may be a channel with the strongest transmit power (eg, signal strength) or relatively less or minimum channel change as the wireless terminal 108 moves between different geographic locations as described above with respect to FIG. 6. It may be based on a channel that requires. In the same way, the wireless terminal 108 can select a travel route that traverses the selected network connection location 702 that provides the best AN connectivity as a whole.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, the user interactive geographic navigation program 704 may provide a user selectivity option to select the best connectivity route as the travel route selection criteria when the wireless terminal 108 selects a travel route. Selected network connections in which wireless terminal 108 provides AN connectivity per user selection criteria (e.g., best signal strength, minimum connection configuration change, maximizing connectivity duration of one or more networks of preferred network operators, etc.). When selecting a travel route that traverses a location 702, the geographic navigation program 704 selects the travel route data 706 (eg, GPS) for use in providing the user with navigation directions or assistance. Waypoints). The geographic navigation program 704 may be a GPS based program or any other type of geographic navigation program.

8 illustrates in block diagram form an exemplary implementation of wireless terminal 108 (FIGS. 1-7). In the example shown, the wireless terminal 108 includes a processor 802 that can be used to control the overall operation of the wireless terminal 108. Processor 802 may be implemented as a controller, general purpose processor, digital signal processor, or any combination thereof.

Wireless terminal 108 also includes a terminal message generator 804 and a terminal data parser 806. Terminal message generator 804 may be used to generate a query and / or request (eg, AN request message 310 of FIG. 3). Terminal data parser 806 may be used to retrieve frames of information from memory (eg, RAM 810) and to retrieve specific information of interest from the frames. For example, the terminal data parser 806 can be used to retrieve the information passed in the AN response message 316 of FIG. 3. Although terminal message generator 804 and terminal data parser 806 are shown as separate from processor 802 and connected to processor 802, in some example implementations, terminal message generator 804 and terminal are shown. Data parser 806 may be implemented within processor 802 and / or within a wireless communication subsystem (eg, wireless communication subsystem 818). Terminal message generator 804 and terminal data parser 806 may be implemented using any desired combination of hardware, firmware, and / or software. For example, one or more integrated circuits, separate semiconductor components, and / or passive electronic devices may be used. Thus, for example, terminal message generator 804 and terminal data parser 806, or portions thereof, may comprise one or more circuits, programmable processors, special purpose integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable. It may be implemented using a logic device (FPLD) or the like. Terminal message generator 804 and terminal data parser 806, or portions thereof, may be implemented using instructions, code, and / or other software and / or firmware, etc., stored on a machine-readable medium, for example, It may be executed by a processor (eg, processor 802 illustrated). When interpreting any device claim in the appended claims as purely a software implementation, at least one of the terminal message generator 804 and the terminal data parser 806 may be a solid memory, magnetic memory, DVD, CD, or the like. It is expressly defined to include the same tangible medium.

Wireless terminal 108 also includes flash memory 808, random access memory (RAM) 810, and extended memory interface 812 communicatively coupled to processor 802. Flash memory 808 may be used, for example, to store computer readable instructions and / or data. In some example implementations, flash memory 808 may be used to store one or more types of information and / or data structures described above with respect to FIGS. 1-7. RAM 810 may also be used to store data and / or instructions, for example.

Wireless terminal 108 optionally includes a security hardware interface 814 for receiving, for example, a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, a universal SIM (USIM) card, a near field communication (NFC) secure element from a wireless service provider. do. The SIM card can be a database (e.g., TVWS database 110 of FIGS. 1 and 3), an access network (e.g., AN 102a-b and / or WLAN AN 116 of FIG. 1), and / Or an authentication parameter or registration parameter (e.g., the Federal Communications Commission of the United States (FCC) that authenticates or registers wireless terminal 108 to establish a connection with an external network (e.g., external network 112 of FIG. Identifier). Wireless terminal 108 also has an external data I / O interface 816. External data I / O interface 816 may be used by a user to transmit information to wireless terminal 108 via a wired medium (eg, Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), etc.). The wired data transmission path may be used to communicate with the TVWS database 110, for example.

The wireless terminal 108 has a wireless communication subsystem 818 that enables wireless communication with an AP (eg, the APs 104a-b and / or the WLAN AP 118 of FIG. 1). Although not shown, wireless terminal 108 may also include a long range communication subsystem for receiving messages from and transmitting messages to and from a cellular wireless network. In the illustrated example described herein, the wireless communication subsystem 818 includes an IEEE? Network for communicating with a TVWS access network (eg, AN 102a-b). It may be configured according to the 802.11 standard and / or TVWS standard. In another example implementation, the wireless communication subsystem 818 is a Bluetooth? Radio, direct rain? Devices, wireless USB devices, radio frequency identification (RFID) devices, NFC devices, ultra-wideband (UWB) radios, PAN radios, WAN radios, WMAN radios (for use in IEEE® 802.11 or WiMAX networks), It may be implemented using a cellular radio or satellite communications radio. In some example implementations, the wireless communication subsystem 818 can include a plurality of radio transceivers for multiple types of radio access technologies.

The wireless terminal 108 includes a speaker 820, a microphone 822, a display 824 so that a user can use the wireless terminal 108 and interact with or via the wireless terminal 108. ) And a user input interface 826. The display 824 may be an LCD display, an e-paper display, or the like. The user input interface 826 may be an alphanumeric keyboard and / or telephone keypad, a multidirectional actuator or roller wheel with dynamic button press functionality, a touch panel, or the like. In the example shown, the wireless terminal 108 is a battery powered device and thus has a battery 828 and a battery interface 830.

Referring now to FIG. 9, an exemplary processor system 900 for use in a network system (eg, network system 100 of FIG. 1) is shown in block diagram form. A processor system similar or identical to the processor system 900 may be used to implement the APs 104a-b, the WLAN AP 118, and / or associated NAS of FIG. 1. Processor system 900 includes a processor 902 for performing the overall operations of processor system 900. Further, processor system 900 may include network message generator 904 and a received message (e.g., FIG. 3) for generating a message (e.g., database request 312 and AN response message 316 of FIG. Network data parser 906 for retrieving information from the AN request message 310 and database response 314). The network message generator 904 and the network data parser 906 use any combination of hardware, firmware, and / or software, including instructions stored on a computer readable medium, to provide a processor 902 and / or communication subsystem (e.g., For example, it may be implemented in wireless communication subsystem 912 and / or network interface 914.

Processor system 900 also includes flash memory 908 and RAM 910, both of which are coupled to processor 902. The flash memory 908 may be configured to store one or more types of information and / or data structures described above with respect to FIGS. 1 through 7.

In some example implementations (eg, the APs 104a-b and WLAN AP 118 of FIG. 1), the processor system 900 is wireless to communicate with a wireless terminal, such as the wireless terminal 108. A wireless communication subsystem 912 is substantially similar or identical to the wireless communication subsystem 818 (FIG. 8) of the terminal 108. Processor system 900 to exchange communication with the TVWS database 110 and / or any intermediate network entity (eg, AP 104a-b, WLAN AP 118, associated NAS, etc. in FIG. 1). Has a network interface 914.

10-13 illustrate network connectivity information that predicts a future location of a wireless terminal and indicates capabilities and requirements for access to an access network (e.g., AN 102a-b in FIG. 1). For example, computer readable instructions that may be obtained from the TVWS database 110 of FIGS. 1 and 3, used to select a network connectivity configuration, and to establish a connection with an access network based on such configuration. An example flow diagram illustrating a process implemented using. 10-13 may be performed using one or more processors, controllers, and / or any other suitable processing apparatus. For example, the example processes of FIGS. 10-13 may comprise encoding instructions (e.g., stored in one or more physical computer readable media, such as flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), and / or random access memory (RAM)). Computer-readable instructions, for example). The term physical computer readable media as used herein is expressly defined to include any type of computer readable storage and to exclude propagating signals. Additionally or alternatively, the example processes of FIGS. 10-13 may be flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), cache, or information for any duration (e.g., Encoding instructions (eg, computer readable) stored on one or more non-transitory computer readable media, such as any other storage medium that is stored for an extended period of time, permanently, for a short time, for temporarily buffering and / or caching. Possible instructions). As used herein, the term non-transitory computer readable medium is expressly defined to include any type of computer readable medium and to exclude radio signals.

Alternatively, some or all of the example processes of FIGS. 10-13 may be special purpose integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable logic devices (FPLDs), discrete logic, hardware, firmware, and the like. It can be implemented using any combination of In addition, some or all of the example processes of FIGS. 10-13 may be implemented manually or as any combination of any of the techniques described above, such as firmware, software, discrete logic and / or hardware. Also, although the example process of FIGS. 10-13 is described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 10-13, other methods of implementing the process of FIGS. 10-13 may be used. For example, the order of execution of the blocks may be changed, and / or some of the blocks shown may be changed, removed, subdivided, or combined. In addition, some or all of the example processes of FIGS. 10-13 may be performed sequentially and / or in parallel by, for example, separate processing threads, processors, devices, discrete logic, circuits, and the like.

Referring now to FIG. 10, the example process shown may be used to predict a near future location to use when selecting an AN connection configuration for connection to an AN (eg, AN 102a-b in FIG. 1). Can be. Initially, wireless terminal 108 collects a location prediction factor (block 1002). For example, the location prediction factors include travel speed, travel direction, geographic map data, conventional history, old actual location (e.g., old physical location 204 of FIG. 2), current real location (e.g. , The current actual location 206 of FIG. 2), user input, web browser surveys (eg, map queries, travel direction survey queries, etc.), and / or predict future locations of the wireless terminal 108. It can include any other type of information that is present.

The wireless terminal 108 predicts its future location (block 1004) and generates a time-based list of predicted future locations (block 1006). For example, the wireless terminal 108 predicts the future location 208 of FIG. 2 and corresponds to the predicted future location 208 in the time entry 304 as to when the wireless terminal 108 is located at that location. With the time it is stored in the predictive connectivity data structure 302 of FIG.

The wireless terminal 108 requests AN connectivity information for the predicted future location using the AN request message 310, for example as described above with respect to FIG. 3 (block 1008). The wireless terminal 108 receives the requested AN connectivity information for the predicted future location (block 1010). For example, wireless terminal 108 may receive the requested AN connectivity information via AN response message 316 as described above with respect to FIG. 3. The wireless terminal 108 may store the received AN connectivity information in the predictive connectivity data structure 302 as one of the AN connectivity information sets 308.

Although the operations of blocks 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008, and 1010 are described as being performed by the wireless terminal 108, in some exemplary implementations, such operations may be performed by a network device (eg, the AP of FIG. 1). 104a-b), WLAN AP 118, associated NAS, and / or TVWS database 110 may instead be performed. For example, such a network device may collect location prediction parameters from the wireless terminal 108 and / or other sources, predict the future location of the wireless terminal 108, and obtain AN connectivity information corresponding to the predicted future location. Push to wireless terminal 108 (eg, by push message 502 of FIG. 5).

When the wireless terminal 108 determines that the wireless terminal 108 has arrived at a new location (block 1012), the wireless terminal 108 determines that the new location is an accurate prediction of one of the predicted future locations in the predictive connectivity data structure 302. Determine if it corresponds to (block 1014). If the new location matches one of the predicted future locations, then the wireless terminal 108 is correctly predicted (block 1014) and needs to re-request AN connectivity information from the TVWS database 110 (FIGS. 1 and 3). It is determined that there is no (block 1016). Instead, the wireless terminal 108 establishes or maintains an AN connection using the AN network connectivity information stored in one of the AN network connectivity information sets 308 corresponding to the new location (block 1018). Control then returns to block 1012.

If, at block 1014, the new location was not accurately predicted (ie, the wireless terminal 108 determines that the new location does not match one of the predicted future locations in the predictive connectivity data structure 302), the wireless terminal ( 108 requests AN connectivity information for its current location from the TVWS database 110 (block 1020). For example, the wireless terminal 108 may request AN connectivity information using the AN request message 310 as described above with respect to FIG. 3 for its current location. The wireless terminal 108 then establishes or maintains an AN connection using the received AN connectivity information (block 1022). Control then returns to block 1002, and the wireless terminal 108 can predict the subsequent future location based on its current location.

If the wireless terminal 108 determines at block 1012 that the wireless terminal 108 has not arrived at the new location, the wireless terminal 108 determines whether to disconnect (block 1024). For example, the wireless terminal 108 can disconnect in response to receiving a power off signal or disconnect command from the user. If the wireless terminal 108 determines not to disconnect (block 1024), control returns to block 1012 to monitor the location of the wireless terminal 108. Otherwise, wireless terminal 108 disconnects the current AN connection (block 1026) and ends the example process of FIG.

11 illustrates an example process that may be used to implement an AN connectivity change between wireless terminal 108 and an access network based on timing information corresponding to the start of AN connectivity information enforcement. Initially, the wireless terminal 108 receives AN connectivity information (block 1102). For example, wireless terminal 108 may retrieve AN connectivity information as described above with respect to FIG. 3, or receive AN connectivity information via push message 502 as described above with respect to FIG. 5. have.

The wireless terminal 108 configures a time event based on the start time corresponding to the received AN connectivity information (block 1104). For example, the wireless terminal 108 may store the access start time from one of the AN connectivity information sets 406 corresponding to the time entry 402 in the time change register 408 as described above with respect to FIG. 4. Can be stored. Alternatively, as described above with respect to FIG. 5, the wireless terminal 108 may store the start time 504 from the push message 502 and the corresponding AN connectivity information 508 in the time change register 408. Can be.

When the wireless terminal 108 detects an assert or trigger of a time event as described above with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5 (block 1106), the wireless terminal 108 is based on the AN connectivity information. Update the connection (block 1108). The wireless terminal 108 determines whether to retrieve the next AN connectivity information (block 1110). For example, if the wireless terminal 108 determines that another of the time entries 402 is approaching the current time, the wireless terminal 108 may retrieve the corresponding set of the AN connectivity information sets 406. have. Alternatively, wireless terminal 108 may receive a push message (eg, push message 502) with the next AN connectivity information. If the wireless terminal 108 determines that it should retrieve the next AN connectivity information (block 1110), control returns to block 1102.

If the wireless terminal 108 determines that it is not necessary to retrieve the next AN connectivity information (block 1110) or determines that the wireless terminal 108 did not detect a time event (block 1106), the wireless terminal 108 Determine whether to disconnect the AN (block 1112). If the wireless terminal 108 determines not to disconnect the AN connection (block 1112), control returns to block 1106. Otherwise, the wireless terminal 108 disconnects the AN connection (block 1114) and ends the example process of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 illustrates AN requiring relatively less or minimal configuration changes while traveling along different geographical locations (eg, GEO-LOC AC 106a-c of FIG. 6) associated with different AN connectivity requirements. An example process is shown that may be used to select an AN connection configuration (eg, a connection configuration stored in the travel route connection planning data structure 614 of FIG. 6) to establish a connection. Initially, the wireless terminal 108 (or network device) predicts a future location of the wireless terminal 108 (eg, the predicted future location 208 of FIG. 2) (block 1202). The wireless terminal 108 connects to an AN to a predicted future location (eg, predicted future location 208) of the wireless terminal 108 via an AN request message 310 as described above with respect to FIG. 3, for example. Request the last name information (block 1204). Wireless terminal 108 receives the requested AN connectivity information via AN response message 316, for example, as described above with respect to FIG. 3 (block 1206). Alternatively, the AN connectivity information does not require the wireless terminal 108 to request AN connectivity information, and as described above in connection with FIG. 5, for example, via a push message 502 to the network device. Can be pushed by.

The wireless terminal 108 may determine the AN for each predicted future location based on the relatively less or minimal connection configuration change required when the wireless terminal 108 moves between the predicted future locations as described above with respect to FIG. 6. Select the connection configuration (block 1208). The wireless terminal 108 then generates a travel route connection plan that includes an AN connectivity configuration for each predicted future location (block 1210). For example, the wireless terminal 108 may store the AN connectivity configuration in the travel route connection planning data structure 614 of FIG. 6. The example process of FIG. 12 then ends.

FIG. 13 illustrates a travel route (eg, the selected navigation route of FIG. 7) in relation to the geographic navigation program 704 (FIG. 7) based on the AN connection location selected by the wireless terminal 108 of FIGS. 1 to 8. 706) shows an example process that may be used to select). Initially, the wireless terminal 108 selects the AN connection configuration (block 1302). For example, the wireless terminal 108 may select an AN connection configuration along the selected location as described above with respect to FIGS. 6 and 12. The wireless terminal 108 generates a selected network connection location list 702 (FIG. 7) (block 1304) and sends the selected network connection location list 702 to the geographic navigation program 704 (block 1306). The geographic navigation program 704 generates the selected navigation path 706 (FIG. 7) based on the selected network connection location 702 (block 1308). The example process of FIG. 13 then ends.

Although certain methods, devices, and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. In contrast, this patent covers all methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture that fall within the scope of the appended claims, either literally or under equivalents.

Claims (29)

A method for retrieving network connectivity information based on a predicted future location of a wireless terminal, the method comprising:
Predicting at least one future location of the wireless terminal;
At least a first and second set of network connectivity information for connecting to at least one access network providing wireless communication coverage at at least one future location-the first network connectivity information is related to the first geographic location, and the second Requesting that the network connectivity information relates to a second geographic location. The method of claim 1, wherein requesting at least a first and a second set of network connectivity information comprises: first and second network connectivity from a database located in an external network with respect to at least one access network providing wireless communication coverage. Requesting a set of information. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the database is a television idle band database. The network of claim 1, wherein requesting at least first and second sets of network connectivity information is performed by sending a request to a second access network before the wireless terminal is in a first or second geographic location. How to retrieve connectivity information. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one access network and the second access network are idle band networks. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one access network is an idle band network and the second access network is one of a wireless local area network or a cellular network. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one access network is one of a wireless local area network or a cellular network and the second access network is one of a wireless local area network or a cellular network. The method of claim 1, wherein predicting at least one future location of the wireless terminal is performed based on at least one of a travel speed of the wireless terminal or a travel direction of the wireless terminal. 2. The network of claim 1, wherein the first set of network connectivity information is adapted to avoid network connectivity requirements to avoid interference with at least one other device operating on the same frequency channel that at least one access network can connect with the wireless terminal. And network connectivity information retrieval method. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one other device is a licensed device registered to operate at the first geographic location using at least one of the same frequency channels. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one other device is registered with a network connectivity database, the network connectivity database derives a first set of network connectivity information based on registration of at least one other device and at least one other device. Excluding at least one of the same frequency channels indicated by the registration of from the first set of network connectivity information. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one future location of the wireless terminal is located along the current travel route of the wireless terminal. The network connectivity information retrieval of claim 1, wherein predicting at least one future location and requesting at least first and second network connectivity information are performed by a network device in communication with a wireless terminal. Way. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of network connectivity information includes at least one of a temporal range or a geographic range, wherein the temporal range indicates a duration while the first set of connectivity information is valid, and the geographic range is defined as the first range. 1 A method of retrieving network connectivity information, wherein the set of connectivity information indicates a valid geographical range. A tangible machine readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to perform the method of claim 1. An apparatus for retrieving network connectivity information based on a predicted future location of a wireless terminal, the apparatus comprising:
Predict at least one future location of the wireless terminal;
At least a first and second set of network connectivity information for connecting to at least one access network providing wireless communication coverage at at least one future location-the first network connectivity information is related to the first geographic location, and the second And a processor configured to request that the network connectivity information is related to the second geographic location. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the processor requests at least first and second network connectivity by requesting a first and second set of network connectivity information from a database located in an external network with respect to at least one access network providing wireless communication coverage. Configured to request a set of information. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the database is a television idle band database. The network of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to request at least the first and second set of network connectivity information by sending a request to the second access network before the wireless terminal is in the first or second geographic location. Connectivity information retrieval device. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one access network and the second access network are idle band networks. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein at least one access network is an idle band network and the second access network is one of a wireless local area network or a cellular network. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein at least one access network is one of a wireless local area network or a cellular network and the second access network is one of a wireless local area network or a cellular network. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to predict at least one future location of the wireless terminal based on at least one of the travel speed of the wireless terminal or the travel direction of the wireless terminal. 17. The network of claim 16, wherein the first set of network connectivity information is adapted to avoid network connectivity requirements to avoid interference with at least one other device operating in the same frequency channel that at least one access network can connect to the wireless terminal. A network connectivity information retrieval apparatus comprising a. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one other apparatus is an authorized device registered to operate at a first geographical location using at least one of the same frequency channels. 27. The device of claim 25, wherein at least one other device is registered with a network connectivity database, the network connectivity database derives a first set of network connectivity information based on registration of at least one other device and at least one other device. And exclude at least one of the same frequency channels indicated by the registration of from the first network connectivity information set. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one future location of the wireless terminal is located along the current travel route of the wireless terminal. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is implemented in a network device in communication with a wireless terminal. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first set of network connectivity information includes at least one of a temporal range or a geographical range, wherein the temporal range indicates a duration while the first set of connectivity information is valid, and the geographic range is defined by the first range. 1. The network connectivity information retrieval apparatus, wherein the connectivity information set indicates a valid geographical range.

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